N ASSA U AND BAHAMA ISLANDS LEADING NEWSPAPER Volume: 107 No.219THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011 PRICE 75 (Abaco and Grand Bahama $1.25 WEATHER CLOUDY, T-STORM HIGH 90F LOW 81F By SANCHESKA B ROWN THE government fears a fuel shortage is imminent if drivers continue to panic buy in preparation for a possible strike. M inister of State for the E nvironment Phenton Ney m our said if motorists continue to flock to the gas station in the numbers they have in the past two days, it can cause an early run out in o ne or two of the suppliers. The gas stations have been packed with peoplef illing up their tanks who do n ot normally do so, said Mr Neymour. Because of this, the gas stations will run out of fuel quicker. It then forces the oil companies to disrupt their routine delivery of TRY OUR McFLURRY SNICKERS The Tribune THEPEOPLESPAPER BIGGESTANDBEST LATESTNEWSONWWW.TRIBUNE242.COM N N O O B B O O D D Y Y B B U U T T N N O O B B O O D D Y Y B B E E A A T T S S T T H H E E T T R R I I B B U U N N E E I I N N S S I I D D E E T T O O D D A A Y Y C C A A R R S S ! C C A A R R S S ! C C A A R R S S ! L L O O A A D D S S O O F F J J O O B B S S A A N N D D H H E E L L P P W W A A N N T T E E D D ! T T H H E E T T R R I I B B U U N N E E S S C C L L A A S S S S I I F F I I E E D D S S T T R R A A D D E E R R Government fuel shor tage fears Panic buying at the pumps could affect supplies SEE page 12 CHARGED: Jeffery Holbert, 25, is pictured outside of court yesterday. Holbert was charged with the fatal stabbing of Dennis Gardiner at Tonique Williams-Darling Highway on January 7, 2010. SEE PAGE NINE CHARGEDWITH2010 MURDER T I M C L A R K E / T R I B U N E S T A F F By SANCHESKA BROWN FORMER Minister of Trade and Industry, Leslie Miller, called petroleum retailers gutless for fighting the government for increases in fuel sales margins instead of the franchise owners and importers. Mr Miller said instead of retailers attempting to hold the government and the Bahamian people hostage, they should be fighting SEE page 12 FORMER MINISTER:PETROLEUM RETAILERS ARE GUTLESS A WOUNDED man ran f or his life to evade his armed a ssailant during a mid-morn ing shooting yesterday. According to reports, the 2 3-year-old victim fled along a track road after he was shot in the chest at Quintine Alley, off Wulff Road, shortly after 10am. At the scene yesterday, Supt Stephen Dean, National C rime Prevention Office SHOOTINGAFTERMATH: The shirt of the 23-year-old man who was shot yesterday. Felip Major /Tribune staff MAN RUNS FOR HIS LIFE AFTER BEING SHOT SHOOTING SEE page 13 PLP leader Perry Christies plan to fight crime has come under fire from a number of directions since he unveiled it at the beginning of the week. The first to respond was veteran police officer Errington Watkins, who issued a statement calling the plan nothing but a fitful night mare at the end of one of Mr Christies slumbers. Mr Watkins, who is now PLP LEADERS ANTI-CRIME PLAN CRITICISED B y AVA TURNQUEST Tribune Staff Reporter a turnquest@tribunemedia.net AFTER the shocking death of his seven-year-old daugh ter, a grieving father urged the country not to underestimate the dengue fever outbreak. After watching Ashley, his only child, suffer from a disease that he wouldnt wish on his worst enemy, Mr Thompson strongly advised the government not to downplay the spread and severity of the viral SEE page 13 FATHER GIVES W ARNING AFTER DAUGHTER DIES OF DENGUE FEVER DEA THOFSEVEN-YEAR-OLD SEE page 12

E DITOR, The Tribune. EVILprevails when good men do nothing is indeed a fact of life. In The Bahamas, we coulds ee, hear, smell, touch and t aste the wickedness which s urrounds us, yet good m en are numbed on the sidelines. Good men have been out of commission for a while in our nation. The mounting murder rate is an example; it is a s ymptom of a sick and d ecomposing society and the good people appear p aralyzed to bring about relief to a suffering homel and. There are killings on the domestic and criminal f ront, and life is becoming cheaper than expired food s elling below market value on a grocery stores shelf. Human, gun and drug smuggling are big business in which no government tod ate has been able to get a handle on, and some corr upt civil servants and othe r crooked citizens are living big-time on their proc eeds and nothing fruitful is being done to really s top such illegal activities which are destroying them oral fabric of our b eloved country. Good men are in a deep s leep in The Bahamas. S elfishness is the order of the day, and black peo ple seem to be the new oppressors of blackB ahamians. We talk to each other with the greatest of disre s pect; and hate, jealousy and envy look to be the prevailing culture. We pass each other by w ithout opening our m ouths to say something constructive, and we treat Gods breath as if we are in control. We love our cars and other possessions more than we value our brothersa nd sisters. W e abandon our elderly folks without mercy, and we dont give a damn about their welfare. We allow illicit drugs to poison our children, and the drug dealer is still considered in higher regard than pastors, policemen, politicians and the law. W e invite the guns into our communities, and when people are killed by t hem we become dreadf ully outraged. C hildren are being nurt ured by a diet of televis ion, computer games and t he Internet; and we see it as the ideal way to show our love for them. Many Bahamian youngsters are literally on their own from birth, and we are shockingly surprised a nd disappointed when t hey would have commit ted serious offences in their youth, or become a murder statistic because of t heir underworld dealings. W ake up good men. B ahamian males are a bandoning their children i n mass numbers, and a lthough they dont know if their offspring is dead or alive, hungry or starving they brag about the number of children that they have with the variousw omen, whenever the topi c is up for discussion by t heir buddies of like m inds. Our national grade point average along with about 50 per cent of our students leaving school without diplomas is reflective of the youths desire to be m ediocre and careless citi zens, thereby jeopardizing their future and that o f the country. Good men remain silent w hile decay sets in to a people in crisis. Lets do something now t o turn things around for the better, good men of T he Bahamas. DENNIS A DAMES Nassau, A ugust 16, 2011. EDITORIAL/LETTERS TO THE EDITOR PAGE 4, THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011 THE TRIBUNE The Tribune Limited NULLIUS ADDICTUS JURARE IN VERBA MAGISTRI Being Bound to Swear to The Dogmas of No Master LEON E. H. DUPUCH, Publisher/Editor 1903-1914 SIR ETIENNE DUPUCH, Kt., O.B.E., K.M., K.C.S.G., (Hon. Publisher/Editor 1919-1972 Contributing Editor 1972-1991 EILEEN DUPUCH CARRON, C.M.G., M.S., B.A., LL.B. Publisher/Editor 1972Published Daily Monday to Saturday Shirley Street, P.O. Box N-3207, Nassau, Bahamas I nsurance Management Building., P.O. F-485, Freeport, Grand Bahama TELEPHONES S witchboard (News, Circulation and Advertising) 322-1986 A dvertising Manager (242 C irculation Department (242 N assau Fax: (242 F reeport, Grand Bahama: 1-(242 Freeport fax: (242 WE HAVE often complained in this column that in general court sentences do not reflect the seriousness of this countrys crime. We recall a lecture when a law student in London a lifetime ago in which the lecturer talked about how courts stiffened their sentences to stamp out whatever crime was plaguing a community at a particular time. The lecturer was not calling for a return of Hanging Judge Jeffreys, but he was describing how judges react to their communitys problems. When our courts were returning hardened criminals to our streets to await their trials, we questioned whether our judiciary was aware that they were contributing to the criminals disrespect for the courts. In fact we have heard of offenders boasting that certain crimes were worth the short period they could spend in prison that is if they were among the unlucky ones who did not slip through scot free. Determined to make certain that destruction by rioting youth would never happen again in England, magistrates courts there have been urged to send all looters to prison. Our directive for anyone involved in the rioting is a custodial sentence, said a local magistrate. That is the directive we have had it is a very serious matter. The magistrate later admitted being mortified that she had used the term directive. She said there had been no directive and accepted that the mistaken use of the word was entirely her fault. The Justices Clerk later explained that what the court had received was general guidance not a directive as such that the sen tencing guidelines in cases such as these arenot applied. What was happening on our streets last week was anarchy, said the London magis trate in handing down a six-month sentence to a father of three after stolen goods were found in his flat. The very fabric of society was at risk, and anyone involved must be dealt with as severely as we possibly can, she said. Later the justices clerk explained that the court had received an e-mail from a justices clerk for Her Majestys Courts and Tribunal Service in the London area saying that when sentencing guidelines were written no one envisaged events like these, and therefore they do not apply. Further elaboration was made by Her Majestys Courts Services: Sentencing, it said, is a matter for the independent judiciary. Justices clerks and legal advisers in magistrates courts have a responsibility to give advice to magistrates on sentencing guidelines. Accordingly magistrates in London are being advised by their legal advisers to consider whether their powers of punishment are sufficient in dealing with some cases arising from the disorder. Magistrates are independent and not subject to direction from their legal advisers. We question whether there are any sen tencing guidelines other than statutory in our courts because in the Bahamas sentences for similar offences seem to vary from magistrate to magistrate. We have heard of criminals assessing the sentencing of magistrates and the ability of certain lawyers to get them off all the while boasting of their guilt. We also know that certain courts are preferred by the criminal element. We recall being told many years ago of a certain brazen young man, acquitted of the death of another young man, giving a high five sign to the crowd as he laughed his way out of court. Later he boasted to one of our staff that if given the same set of cir cumstances he would commit the crime all over again. One can hear the frustration in Police Commissioner Greenslades voice when he complains that although the police are doing their part in getting the offenders to court, they are soon out on the streets again, having been given bail by a magistrate. It is a wonder that the police dont give up. In England, as a result of these riots, the lifting of a juveniles anonymity is also being considered if it is required in the public interest that the youth be identified. A newspaper cannot publish the name, photograph or in any way identify a young person under the age of 18 when he or she is charged with a criminal offence. Today in London the photos of under age looters are being published. However, this decision is being made on a case-by-case basis after conviction. However, the British are so determined to restore law and order to their communities, that Prime Minister Cameron made it clear that the government will not stop until this mindless violence and thuggery is defeated and law and order is fully restored on all our streets. This is what Bahamians want to hear. All of these matters will be discussed in parlia ment in October when Prime Minister Ingra ham introduces draft legislation to amend the Bail Act, and other matters relating to crime, especially after the recent decisions by the Privy Council in capital cases. Good men are out of commission LETTERS letters@tribunemedia.net Sentences that are soft on crime 0$5.(7,1* '(17 1(('(' E DITOR, The Tribune. AMY WINEHOUSESpublic decent into the primitive abyss of promiscuous sex, profanity and drugs is ar eflection of a society that, as her last album title betrays, has gone Back to Black. This is due largely to the one-sidedness of the E nlightenment and a certain hedonism that has given rise to autonomy and anti-authoritarianism. Todays world view takes a very dogmatic posture that excludes interventions of God in the world. P eople feel a need for spirituality but are unwilling t o sacrifice anything for it. As a result religion has become for the masses some thing that exists in the subjective sphere where objec t ive dogmatic contents do not bind us. Spirituality is little more than the individual affirming himself. But living according to ones own claims and criterions is a false recipe for life. T he refusal of suffering and creatureliness, and a l ack of being held to a standard are ultimately the refusal of love itself, and that ruins man. It is precisely in allowing himself to be pruned that man is enabled to mature and bear good fruit. In this new dark age, the intimate link between freedom and truth has been obscured in the minds and hearts of some, and eclipsed in those of others. We all need to set out on the mountainous path to the good where we will discover more and more the beauty that lies in the efforts demanded by truth. PAUL KOKOSKI Canada, July 24, 2011. Regarding the death of sing er Am y W inehouse

LOCAL NEWS PAGE 8, THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011 THE TRIBUNE Share your news The Tribune wants to hear from people who are making news in their neighbourhoods. Perhaps you are raising funds for a good cause, campaigning for improvements in the area or have won an award. If so, call us on 322-1986 and share your story.

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LOCAL NEWS PAGE 10, THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011 THE TRIBUNE E LIZABETHMP Ryan Pinder awarde d the most recent valedictorian of Thelma G ibson Primary School, Rachea Bodie, with a brand-new laptop on Tuesday. T he young student, who is expected to c ontinue her studies at St Augustines College in the upcoming school year, was also presented with a gift box by the PLPs Elizabeth branch. Mr Pinder said: It is important that we recognise and encourage our youth, especially when they excel in areas such as educ ation. I want to congratulate Rachea and wish her well. I also want to acknowledge and con gratulate her family, including her parents Ortland H Bodie III and Deidre D Bodie,a nd her grandmother Sylvia Mitchell. It is through the continued support and encouragement of family members where we witness young Bahamians like Rachea succeed, Mr Pinder said. Rachea was graduated top of the graduating class of 2011 and won the Principals Award. S he represented her school at this years M inistry of Education district spelling bee and was also a semi-finalist in the Bahamas Primary School Student of the Year Award. R achea recently participated in the Bahamas Independence Day celebrations and plans to pursue a career in nursing. RACHEA BODIE GRADUATED TOP OF THE CLASS MP AWARDS LAPTOP TO THELMA GIBSON PRIMARY VALEDICTORIAN

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KINGSTON, Jamaica A ssociated Press A JAMAICAN MUSIC producer for a top reggae label has been shot to death outside his home in an upscale neighborhood of the Caribbean island's capital. Police in Kingston say Joel Chin was attacked late Tuesday after he stepped out of his car in the driveway of his home. Police have n ot disclosed a possible motive. Chin was the grandson of Vincent "Randy" Chin, a pioneering reggae producer from Jamaica who established VP Records in New York. The company has made stars out of artists like Sean Paul and Beenie Man. VP Records says Joel Chin moved from New York to Jamaica two years a go to spend more time on music. The label says the 35-yearold was instrumental in launching the careers of sev eral reggae stars. By DENISE MAYCOCK Tribune Freeport Reporter dmaycock@tribunemedia.net F REEPORT The Alumni Association of Freeport High/Bishop Michael Eldon High School plans to celebrate the 46th anniversary of the institution with a grand reunion celebration from August 19-21. David Wallace, president of the Alumni Association, said that well known recording artist/songwriter Johnny Kemp,a former graduate, will travel to Freeport to attend the event. Kemp, who is known for his hit song, Just Got Paid, is among several other f ormer graduates who will be recognised, a ccording to Mr Wallace. The association holds a reunion e very two years and the funds raised a re usually donated to assist the s chool. This year, the association is hoping to raise $20,000 to help with construction ofa cafeteria and improvements to the auditorium floor. Activities U nder the theme, Celebration of Yest erday, Today and Tomorrow, the threeday event will feature a number of activ-i ties, including a cultural show and welc ome reception, a walkathon, a beach bash, a talent and fashion show, and a church service. This year marks the 46th anniversary of a very noble institution known to some of us as Freeport High School, Freeport Anglican High, and now Bishop Michael E ldon High. Freeport High back in the early 70s was known for its talent and fashion shows, and we have decided that thisy ear we will honour persons in the arts, M r Wallace said. He noted that 10 persons who were instrumental in the talent show or who succeeded in the arts are being recog n ised. Those being honoured include choreographer Lois Seiler and her late hus b and, Lou Seiler; Bahamian thespian Wesley Butler; singer Crystal Cumber batch-Hicks; comedian the late Wayne Marshall; and the surviving members of the popular break dance group Sanford and Co. David Bowen, the current director of culture in the Turks and Caicos Islands who played a major role in Michael Jacksons record-smashing Beat It music video is also among those to be honoured. S ammy Bethel, a former principal who b rought the fine arts back to Freeport High; Janet Baxter, a teacher who reintroduced the steel pan band to the school; and the Simmons Five, a family t hat started playing the steel pan in the 7 0s, will be recognised as well. Reception The activities will kick off on Friday, A ugust 19, with a cultural show and welc ome reception at the Port Lucaya Marketplace at 8pm. Joey Bridgewater, a 1974 graduate, said the event is open to the public. He said some exciting entertainment is lined up, including fire and limbo danc ing, a junkanoo rush-out and a perfor-m ance by the Freeport High Steel Pan B and. D avid Bowens dance group will also p erform that evening. On Saturday, August 20, alumni will participate in a walkathon beginning at 7am at the Bishop Michael High School and ending at Williams Town Beach. Then, a beach bash will be held from noon to 3pm at Coral Beach during BASR As annual Bernie Butler Swim Race. T he talent show and dance will be held o n Saturday from 8pm to midnight in the school's auditorium. O n Sunday, August 21, a church serv ice will be held at 11am at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Pinders Point. Petrona Russell said registration is going well and many former studentsf rom abroad, New Providence, Bimini and the Turks and Caicos will be attending the event. We are asking all former students to register as soon as they can because we want to be able have sufficient para phernalia available for everyone, she s aid. M r Wallace is asking the public to support the event. He said all activities are free of charge a side from the talent show. LOCAL NEWS T HE TRIBUNE THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011, PAGE 11 ALUMNI PLAN REUNION FOR 46TH ANNIVERSARY FREEPORT HIGH/BISHOP MICHAEL ELDON HIGH SCHOOL Association hopes to raise $20,000 towards cafeteria and improvements MUSIC PR ODUCER KILLED B Y GUNMEN IN JAMAICA CARIBBEAN NEWS

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products. It also causes an increase in ordering. Wheny ou have a massive spike in demand, it decreases invent ory. It is difficult for them to adjust because there is a standing order for deliveri es from the refineries and traders. M r Neymour said the government is handling thes ituation and there is no n eed for the public to panic. He also said he met with representatives from theB ahamas Petroleum Retail ers Association (BPRA yesterday to map out the w ay forward. We had a good discussion, he said. They talkeda bout their challenges, and t he government our concerns. We are taking their terms into consideration anda re scheduled to met with t hem again tomorrow In terms of the strike, they have promised that no such action will be taken beforet he next meeting. Mr Neymour also responded to criticism from L eslie Miller, former minist er of trade and industry. Mr Miller advised the govern-m ent and retailers to negot iate a reduction in rent paid to the Esso, Texaco and Shell franchises. Is this the same Leslie M iller that was in office for four years and did nothing? What did he achieve? His record speaks for itself, saidM r Neymour. We have three major wholesalers that are primary d istributors of petroleum p roducts. They have led the industry for years.W hat Miller does not u nderstand is that we have an archipelago in which we have to distribute fuel. Weu se small tankerettes to d eliver fuel, because of this the risk is high so many companies choose not to enter our market becauseo f the marine risk. It is clear he is not as informed as he ought to be. M r Neymour also said it is not in the best interest of the retailers to strike because, he says, if theyc lose their doors they will s till have to pay rent and franchise fees. A cting Minister of F inance Tommy Turnquest, told The Tribune,t he government is aware o f the retailers concerns and are working with them to come up with an amica b le solution. W hen asked if the gov ernment intends on absorbing some of the cost instead of the consumers,M r Turnquest said: If we do that then we will have to tax people on somethinge lse. We will have less money but still be required to provide the same ser vices. What would you r ather, paying extra at the p umps or having another tax? P etroleum retailers vote d unanimously for strike action on Wednesdayn ight. They have asked the g overnment for an increase of 30 cents per gallon for gasoline and 20c ents for diesel. It has been 1 0 years since retailers received an increase on their fixed margins. There is no set date for the strike,h owever retailers can exer cise their right to strike at any time. P resident of he BPRA Oswald Moore refused to comment other than to say negotiations seem posi t ive and we will not strike b efore the next meeting with the government. LOCAL NEWS PAGE 12, THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011 THE TRIBUNE franchise owners for a reduction in rent. Keeping a vital product like fuel out of the hands of Bahamian people and threatening their livelihood is not right and cannot be justified, said Mr Miller. They are gutless. They need to sit down as men and stand up to the franchisers. Who the hell are they to attack the Bahamian people? They are setting a dangerous precedent and wreaking unnecessary havoc. What they should be doing is negotiating with Esso, Texaco and Shell to lower what they charge in rent. Retailers in the Bahamas pay an average of $22,000 a month in rent, the average cost for the region is around $12,000. Which means we pay around $8,000 more than our counterparts. These guys have the Bahamian retailers afraid. Thats why they are fighting the Bahamian people. Times are hard and the economy is bad. Bahamian people cannot sustain another increase. Mr Miller said if he were in charge, he would s uspend the licenses of the retailers if they con tinue their strike action. He added: The government should suspend all of their licenses indefinitely until they quit all this strike talk. If I was still the minister in charge, if the retailers are adamant they cant maintain with current margins, I would take 10 per cent of every gallon of fuel imported and give it to them. But thats it. When I was minister I refused to sign increases because the economy was bad, and it is still bad. The government and the retailers need to come together and fight the real problem, the franchisers and the importer. In order for the retailers to begin making real money they either have to stand up for themselves or become independent. Gas stations pay rent to wholesalers and fran chise fees. They also pay between 15 and 20 per cent on everything that is sold in the convenience stores. The former minister said when the financial burden eases up for the country, then retailers can get their increases. But until then, it is unfair for them to transfer their burden on to the Bahamian people. i nfection. Mr Thompson, a 37-year-old fishe rman, said: All I want is the people in the Bahamas to realise this thing is very serious. My pain, my crying, I dont want nobody to go through what Im going through right now. I watch my little daughter suffer. I took her to the hospital, she w as getting little better, she was talking and everything, I didnt expect her to die. Ashley began showing dengue fever like symptoms on August 4, according to Mr Thompson, and diedat hospital some five days later on A ugust 9. After doctors confirmed that his c hilds death was caused by dengue fever, Mr Thompson said he came to The Tribune in hopes that his experience could be used to sensi-t ize Bahamians and urged the public to protect their children and elderly. Mr Thompson took his daughter to the Elizabeth Estates clinic on a F riday. There, Ashley received treatment f or her low blood pressure and dehydration, and Mr Thompson said he a nd his wife received nutritional supp lements to give to her at home. Over the weekend, Ashleys condition fluctuated. However, MrT hompson said her health took a d efinite turn for the worse on Sunday evening. The couple had always planned to take their daughter to the Princess Margaret Hospital on Monday morni ng; however, Mr Thompson said he was taken aback that morning when A shley told him that she felt as if she was dying. A shley was admitted to Accident and Emergency immediately, said Mr Thompson, who applauded the service by doctors and staff. The doctors were so good, as s oon as I got there they worked with her, it was like five minutes wait. They were trying to get her blood pressure up but it wouldnt come up. He added: The doctors at PMH they did all they could. I must say it. M r Thompson said he was surprised to learn from doctors that thei nfection had attacked his daughters liver and kidneys, and had severely lowered her blood pressure. T he family got the call from hosp ital doctors sometime after midn ight on Tuesday, informing them t hat Ashley had taken a turn for the worse. When I got there they were pumping her heart, and she was com-i ng and then going, coming and then the heart beat going right back out. After they had done that so m any times, it felt like they were hurting her so I just tell them let her g o, let her die in peace. Plagued with guilt, Mr Thompson often wonders if there was more he could have done to save his daughter. I didnt want her to go like that, h e said. I really didnt want her to go, I miss her so much. Sometime I f eel like it was me, if I had carried her Sunday instead of Monday. If I had known it was that serious, I would have taken her back Saturday evening, just to take fluids. My daughter used to go to church every Sunday, she was a good g irl. She had manners, respect for everybody. I would like for them to let the people know please protect your children, the elderly, please protect your children. I dont want my daughters death to go in vain, at least some litt le child can get saved because of my daughter. F ormerly a Sandilands Primary School student, Ashley was looking forward to starting a new school year a t Akepran International Academy, a n alternative school recently opened i n Fox Hill. N ow, Mr Thurston said that the money saved for her tuition is now being used to bury her. We used to be everywhere t ogether, Id walk her to school and bring her back. You know how hard it is to look in her bed and shes not t here? I would like for the government to let the people know that this is a serious, serious thing, not becausew e afraid of losing some tourists and a ll that. We have to protect our selves, a lot of people are sick from this illness. Ashleys funeral will be held this S aturday. Persons wishing to assist t he family can contact Mr Thompson at 324-9753. FATHER GIVES WARNING AFTER DAUGHTER DIES OF DENGUE FEVER MR THOMPSON with a p hoto of his daughter A shley who died of d engue fever. I didnt want her to go like that, he said. I really didnt want her to go, I miss her so much. Sometime I feel like it was me, if I h ad carried her Sunday instead of Monday. F elip Major / Tribune staff GOVERNMENT FUEL SHORTAGE FEARS F ROM page one FORMER MINISTER:PETROLEUM RET AILERS ARE GUTLESS FROM page one FROM page one

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retired after a long career in the police, said: Crime in this c ountry has been steadily escalating since the mid-1970s and became progressively worse under each successive administration ever since, inclusive of the Christie administration of 2002-7. Mr Watkins admitted that it was Mr Christies government t hat began the Urban Renewal Plan, but said this was quickly spoiled when it was allowed to become saturated with criminals in uniform. He said: The only true and sensible statement attributed to Christies long and boring diatribe is that people are a fraid and they are angry. Attributing the blame to the present administration will not exonerate your administration from blame, neither will it exonerate you and your happy band of parliamentary bench warmers from the dereliction of your o fficial duties of keeping the government on its toes and focused on the peoples business. Mr Watkins called the PLP leaders declaration of war on the criminal element hogwash, as the police dont stand a chance in such a war. If Christie would arouse f rom his slumber long enough to catch up on some world news, he will see what a toll Mexico has paid and is still paying in innocent lives by implementing such a plan as suggested by him, he said. M r Watkins said that if Mr Christie is really concerned a bout crime, he should do what the public is paying you and your members to do cross the aisle, sit down with the government members discuss the situation and search for answers. M eanwhile, the Democratic National Alliance attacked M r Christie's crime plan as an "unimaginative regurgitation" of the PLP's old rhetoric. In a statement released yesterday, the new third party said: "Neither the Free National Movement (FNMnor the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP solution to our crime problem, and the proposed plan presented by the leader of the PLP by way of a national address is a testament to the DNAs position, as it is unimaginative, uninformedand a regurgitation of some of the same, old PLP singsong," Lawyer Wayne Munroe, the DNA's candidate for Mt Moriah, said he sees much of the proposed PLP plan as simple political window dress ing aimed at bamboozling the public into believing that the PLP has a crime solution, when in fact it does not. Mr Munroe said the PLP plan is flawed in 10 particular areas. He noted, firstly, that the former prime ministers prop osal to have new Strike Force teams taking over the streets of Nassau was not well thought out. We already have had any number of new police teams and operations called by many names, said Mr Munroe. And we now have highly armed police officers driving around all day and night in addition to the SWAT teams of the RBPF. This solution is an insult to the COP and the RBPF. The simple fact of the matter is that the police cann ot be everywhere at once a nd the criminals know that. Mr Munroe said the idea of having the police patrol the borders to prevent gun trafficking into our ports is another unimaginative, uninformed idea. Most firearms are not smuggled in vessels in a mann er that they can be interdicted by the RBDF, Mr Munroe said. All foreign vessels are permitted to have licensed firearms on board so long as they are declared and not bought on shore. Increased RBDF activity will not affect inflow of illegal f irearms. Mr Munroe also took exception to Mr Christies proposed legislation to permit cases involving high-powered weapons to be tried in the Supreme Court, calling the idea political fluff. Either the PLP is completely unaware of section 3 0(2 which presently permits trials in the Supreme Court for prohibited weapons where the maximum sentence is 20 years, or if they do know about this section, is attempting to fluff the public into believing that they are coming up with some new initiative or strategy. Either way you look at it, it is shameful. If they did not know, shame. If they did and tried to deceive the public, shame. Mr Munroe also took aim at the PLPs plan to reintroduce the Swift Justice and witness protection programmes, saying that Swift Justice would be nothing more than a regurgitation of a plan that had no track record of success. As for passing of a Death Penalty Act, Mr Munroe noted that Mr Christie was the prime minister when the cases of Trono Davis and Forrester Bowe caused a change in the law. Mr Munroe, who was president of the Bar at the time, said he called for such legis lation and the PLP failed or refused to pass it. Last night, PLP senator H ope Strachan issued a response to the new third party, saying: The DNA presents itself as something new but their attack on the PLPs crime plan shows theyre nothing more than politics as usual. She said that instead of c onsidering some of the innovative ideas Mr Christie outlines, the DNA issued a knee-jerk response against the plan. Bahamians know LOCAL NEWS T HE TRIBUNE THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011, PAGE 13 director, said: The young man was walking through the Quintine Alley area when a man, armed with a handgun, shot him in t he chest. Running through bushes and overgrown lots, the victim cut across three streets before collapsing on the front porch of a res i dence at Milton Street, off East Street. T he shooting occurred near Stephen Dillette Primary School, and sources confirmed the victim as a resident of the area. While maintaining the matter was an isolated incident, Supt Dean said police planned to release their strategic safety plan for schools and their surrounding areas in the next few days. The matter that occurred not far from the school is an i solated incident and has no connection or bearing on the school, said Supt Dean. We can tell you that the police have a strategic plan in place and the public can rest assured that schools and its periph e ries will be safe. Last night the injured man was in hospital where his condition is said to be serious. A nyone with information that might assist police investiga tions is asked to contact the Central Detective Unit at 502-9991 502-9910 or Crime Stoppers at 328-TIPS FROM page one MAN R UNS FOR HIS LIFE AFTER BEING SHOT that the PLP has credibility on crime they remember how we pioneered Urban Renewal and Swift Justice; they know these programmes won awards; they know these programmes were starting to w ork before the FNM gutted them. Bahamian citizens have responded to the plan with interest and support the DNA would do well to follow their lead, the senator said. The FNM, for its part, has not issued an official statem ent on the plan, but party operatives were yesterday circling a speech made by Mr Christie before he took office in 2002, in which they said he promised to do many of the same things included in his new plan, but failed to delive r. FROM page one PLP LEADERS ANTI-CRIME PLAN CRITICISED PERRYCHRISTIE

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By NEIL HARTNELL Tribune Business Editor A FULLY-FLEDGED strike by petroleum retail ers could be quite devast ating for the Bahamian b usiness community, the Bahamas Chamber of Com merce and Employers Confederations (BCCEC chairman warned yesterday, adding that this would exac erbate the impact of any margin increases. Winston Rolle told Tribune Business that the ramifications from a nationwide gas retail strike would be very widespread, impacting not only private sector costs but company operational structures especially businesses in the transportation and delivery industries. Its a combination of both, Mr Rolle explained. From a consumer perspective theres the price of gasoline, but from a business perspective its not only the price of gas. If a strike does take place, and is protracted for any period of time, if can significantly impact business operations...... It can be quite devastating if not managed correctly. $4. 68 $4. 51 $4. 69The information contained is from a third party and The Tribune can not be held r esponsible for errors and/or omission f rom the daily report.$ $5.55 $5.43 $5.55 T HETRIBUNE SECTIONB business@tribunemedia.netTHURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011 WHILE remaining tightlipped on the state of operations at the Grand Bahama Shipyard, Graham Couser, its business development manager, c onfirmed to Tribune B usiness that two Carniv al Cruise Line vessels are scheduled to be at its dryd ock this year. We have got two Carnival ships the rest of this year, Mr Couser confirmed yesterday. He declined to go into details of the arrangement over the telephone, stating: Its sensitive due to the n ature of the business. The arrival of the Miam i-based cruise lines vess els could mean a large n umber of short-term workers on contract at the shipyard. The GrandB ahama Shipyard usually records an average of 20 dockings each year. The Grand Bahama S hipyard, the biggest shipBy NEIL HARTNELL T ribune Business Editor A BAHAMIAN-OWNED airline is set to begin construction on its new $1.4 million hangar at Lynden Pindling International Airport( LPIA) next month, a move it believes will enhance operational efficiency as it prepares to launch three new routes into the US by this November. Captain Randy Butler, Sky Bahamas president, told Tri-b une Business yesterday that the new hangar would enable the airline to conduct maintenance on its aircraft fleet at night, rather than during the day as it does currently, thereb y increasing fleet utilisation and efficiency. Were building a new h angar starting in September, Captain Butler confirmed. Then well be able to do maintenance at night, and that will give us more capability during the day. Its going to cost us $1.4 million to build it, and well rent out some of the space.T hats going to be a good addition, a revenue generator for us. Currently, Sky Bahamas does not fly to the US on By NEIL HARTNELL T ribune Business Editor THE projected increase in the central gove rnment deficit to 5.25 per cent for the 20112012 fiscal year is a really ominous indicator and raises concern over the direction the Bahamas is headed in, a former finance minister warned yesterday. James Smith, former minister of state for f inance in the 2002-2007 Christie administration, t old Tribune Business that the recent International Monetary Fund (IMF DEVASTATING FEARS ON GASOLINE STRIKE Chamber chief says impact, combined with p r ice/mar gin increases, could be very w idespr ead f or Bahamian pr iv ate sector SEE page 7B 5.25% DEFICIT CALL REALLY OMINOUS Former finance minister not too impressed by Bahamas fiscal direct ion outlined by IMF Says consolidation plans contradicted by short-term deficit spending Govt appears very content with 4.75% deficit for 2010-2011 SEE page 9B J AMESSMITH AIRLINE REACHES FOR SKY IN $1.4M HANGAR Investment designed to boost operational and maintenance efficiency ahead of three new routes in November* Airline chief says launches will take it to 12 route total SEE page 8B FIXED RATE CONTRACTS HIT TAXIS, OPERATORS CAPTAIN RANDY BUTLER By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter n mckenzie@tribunemedia.net TOUR operators and taxi drivers yesterday said their fixed-rate operations have already taken a major hit from ris ing fuel prices, and further hikes would create even greater losses for their businesses. Kevin Moss, director of operations and sales at Leisure Travel Tours, told Tribune Business: We really cant change our rates because theyre set inour contracts with different clients. Were going to take a hit and our hands are tied. Right now the price of fuel is very high, and any further increase, of course, would have a negative impact on our bottom line. He added: Fuel bills in the transportation industry run in the tens of thousands of dollars each month. You need your vehicle on the road because that is your livelihood. We would have to find ways to cut costs in term of fuel. Our prices cant fluctuate with the price of fuel; were at a steady rate. If gas goes up, worst case scenario to $6 per gallon, we still have to charge the same rate that we were charging before. At the end of the day there is only so Unable to adjust to c ompensate for fuel incr eases, leaving industries at mercy of possible margin rises SEE page 10B C ARNIVAL BOOST FOR SHIPYARD T wo cruise vessels set for dry dock in Grand Bahama later this year SEE page 7B

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BUSINESS PAGE 2B, THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011 THE TRIBUNE Crayons & Markers C olouring Pencils 12ct..$2.25Crayola Crayons 24ct...$3.25C rayola Markers 8ct.......$7.00Compostion Books C olor & Black/white 100 sheets 12pk Pencils D idacta Pencils....$1.50P rincess Pencils..$2.99Erasers & Sharpeners E raser Set 8 pc.............89Sharpeners ea..............60S harpeners 4pc......$1.25Didacta M ath Geometry S ets 3 pk Rulers D ora/Ben 10 4 pk Highlighters Mini Scented Tinkerbell/Batman F iller Paper 2 50 SheetsButlersHome Essentials$1099$199$225 $37 5 $250 $499$199 $89 9$67 5$49 9$77 5Correction T apes 2pk Sir Milo Butler T ext Books S tick Pens Bazic 12pk Black/ P rogrip 6pk ColourBackToSchoolGet ready for 89e a 89eaDora 12" Backpack Diego 12" Backpack Diego 15" Backpack Spongebob Lunch Bag Spiderman & Friend Lunch Bag refresh.renovate.repairButlers Home EssentialsBaillou Hill Rd. & Wellington St. Telephone: 323-5422 By DEIDREMBASTIAN DO YOUknow that the video card inside your computer is responsible for whaty ou are seeing on your monit or right now? You probably had no idea that a typical computer screen contains more than one million pixels that must be decoded to produce a single image. Yes, andt hese pixels are then converte d into an image by a graphic card and sent via cable to your monitor to display an image. A graphic card is also called a video card, and is the device t hat takes the binary code f rom the central processing unit (CPU images on your computer monitor. Simply put, a graph-i cs card is a plug-in card used to display better pictures and overall performance from theP C. It enables your computer t o play games and movies, and generate and output 2D/3D images on a display.M any graphic cards support TV displays, digital cameras and analog video cameras asw ell. However, the first graphi c card, introduced by IBM in 1981, was the Monochrome Display Adapter, or MDA, enabling white or green text to be displayed on a black screen. A graphic card is a big plus to designers. Its great selling point is its ability to host its very own ram (memory which is used in place of the PC's ram, enabling the PC to r un faster and better. Hypot hetically, graphic cards can come pre-built into your motherboard or be an actualc ard that fits securely into a s lot on your motherboard. Either way, your video card is very important as graphicsb ecome more demanding. How does it work? A graphic card's job seems a little complex, but its principles and components are easy to understand. The i mages you see on your mon itor are made of tiny dots c alled pixels, in which a screen displays over a million of t hem, and the computer has to decide what to do with every single one in order to create an image. To do this, it requires a t ranslator to take binary data from the CPU to transform it into a picture. For example, think of a computer as a company with its own art department. When employees in the company want a piece of art w ork, they send a request to the art department. The designer decides how to cre-a te the image and then puts it on paper. The end result is that someone's idea becomes a n actual viewable picture. A g raphics card works along this same principle. A nother example: The CPU, working in conjunction with software applications, s ends information about the image to the graphics card. The graphics card decidesh ow to use the pixels on the s creen to create the image. It then sends that information to the monitor through ac able ,and guess what? We then have an image. If you are a computer n ovice, you need to know two i mportant things about graphi c video cards: Memory and speed. First the memory size, which basically tells us how much RAM the video card has. The more the better,o bviously, but too much can b e a waste of money, so just be sure to get the right amount for what you plan on doing. These cards function at a high rate of speed and operate at a dual port technology,m eaning this enables the system to read from RAM and write simultaneously. If multimedia or games are a high priority for your computer, the more memory your syst em has the better it will perform. Thus I recommend purc hasing a graphics card with its own memory as the best option. N ow let's talk about what type of graphic cards you should purchase. Upgrading your current card is a very simple task because it only s lides right into a slot on your computer. Your card can go i nto one of two slots, PCI or AGP. Chances are that your computer has both, but which one is the best? By far AGP is the better technology, since i t processes data much faster than PCI. U nfortunately, if you have a computer that was bought before the year 2000, most likely you don't have an AGP slot or at least not the fastest. S eek assistance from your c omputer technician to find o ut which one is appropriate f or your computer. When selecting a graphics card, e nsure the card you purchase i s supported by your system. Technically, installing your new video card is actually thes imple part of this voyage, as the card features an interface that plugs into a port or slot inside the computer on the motherboard, and can be done by anyone that owns a computer. Heres how: How designers mark their card A RTOF G RAPHIX DEIDRE BASTIAN SEE page 4B

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By NATARIO McKENZIE Tribune Business Reporter nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net M INISTER of State for the Environment Phenton Neymour, told Tribune Business yesterday that talks were progressing between the Government and petroleumr etailers after the latter voted o n Tuesday night to go on s trike. Mr Neymour met with petroleum retailers yesterday, and following that meeting told this newspaper: Them eeting went very well. We are progressing, and we are going to continue our discussions going forward. They were able to point out some of the additional challenges they had since we last met. Some of their positions have deteriorated over time, a nd are compounded by recent increases in the purc hase price for gas and diesel at this time. We are continuing our discussions. Mr Neymour added: From the discussions wee ssentially agreed that they are not to take action until w e reconvene again in short order. We were discussing the mark-up, and were also discussing their relationship with the wholesalers. We were discussing the difference between the three major wholesalers; that is Esso, Texaco and Shell, and how they address their business, and were also looking at h ow to address the fluctuat ion of the prices going forward. Theyve made some r equests of us and were con sidering them at this time. They are free to conduct t heir business, but one of the things that had to be made clear was the consequences of them striking and how it w ill impact the Bahamian people and our economy. Bahamas Petroleum Retailers Association (BPRA Moore, told Tribune Business yesterday: We have [ agreed to] continue meeti ngs until we reach an amicable agreement. Mr Moore said he was optimistic an agreement could be reached, and added: They said we need to con-t inue to dialogue on the situa tion because they said that they understand our position. He added that he was hopeful the discussions would lead to finalising how a nd when a margin increased, w hich the Government had said it was committed to, would come into effect. Petroleum retailers voted unanimously for a strike Tuesday night during an e mergency meeting. Gas stat ions around New Providence were packed with motorists desperate to fill their tanks ahead of any strike action. I t has been 10 years since retailers received an increase on their fixed gasoline margins, and more than 30 years since diesel margins increased. The BPRA has been in negotiations with theG overnment for months, and although it has agreed in principle to an increase, retailers claim they have been given no clear timeline despite the urgent need fora ction. T he BPRA represents 85 per cent of gas retailers, and its members claim the situat ion is desperate because they are being squeezed on both ends by wholesalersa nd by the Government. BUSINESS T HE TRIBUNE THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011, PAGE 3B 127,&( 6WRFN ,QWHUHVWDWH &HUWLFDWHR 0DWXULW\'DWH \ $PRXQW LQWHQGWRUHTXHVWWKHHJLVWUDUWRLVVXHUHSODFHPHQWFHUWLFDWHV ,IWKHVHFHUWLFDWHVDUHIRXQGSOHDVHZULWHWR 3 1DVVDX%DKDPDV GAS MARK-UP TALKS NOW PROGRESSING MINISTER o f State for the E nvironment Phenton Neymour. GAS STATIONS were busy on Tuesday when retailers voted to go on strike.

PAGE 6B, THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011 THE TRIBUNE T HURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011 PAGE 7B BUSINESS M embers of the Bahamas Petroleum R etailers Association (BPRA been pushing for an increase in existing gasoline and diesel margins form onths, and on Tuesday night voted in favour of a strike in a bid to force the Governments hand on the issue. They have been seeking a $0.30 i ncrease in the per gallon of gasoline margin to $0.74, up from the existing $0.44 per gallon. On diesel, BPRA m embers are pushing for a $0.28 per g allon margin increase to $0.47, up f rom the existing $0.19. Effectively, the BPRA is seeking 68 per cent and1 47 per cent increases, respectively, in t he gasoline and diesel margins. Earl Deveaux, minister of the environment, in late June indicated that the Gover nment had agreed to lobbyi ng by the BPRA and Marina Operators of the Bahamas (MoB an incr ease in the fixed mar g ins, but it is by no means certain they will get all t hey are seeking. Mr Rolle yester d ay told T ribune Business that the Bahamian private s ector did not want a strike to occur. Y et businesses have to be concer ned about increasing costs, he said, adding of the pr oposed mar g in incr eases: That s a cost that s going to b e directly impacting peoples bottom lines, especially if they have vehicles on the road responsible for deliveriese tc. If the strike does take place, it will hamper the way business is done. If youre not adequately served in terms of gasoline for your vehicles, you will not make your deliveries, which impacts your ability to ser vice your customers and your customers ability t o ser ve their customers. The impact c an be ver y widespread. Mr Rolle said both he and the BCCEC wer e sensitive to the BPRAs plight, which results from an inefficient, government-controlled pricing str uctur e. He again called on the Gover nment and BPRA to reach a happy medium, and told Tribune Business: We dor ecognise their plight. Im not sure how the negotiations are going, but hopefully they can do something amicable r elatively quickly I was hopeful there would be some happy medium that could be met between the r etailers and the Government as to how to absorb that differential in price that everyone needs to make. W er e not out of the woods; thats for sure. Mr Rolle s predecessor as BCCEC chair Khaalis Rolle, earlier this year told Tribune Business that gas station retailers suffer margin erosion through an "inefficient" pricing structure that penalises them when oil prices incr ease through high capital costs. He argued, though, that price controls were not the main factor in determining Bahamian gasoline and diesel prices, the two key components being the landed cost of fuel (global oil prices) and the tax str uctur e imposed on the industry by the Government, "I think price control, the Gover nment-controlled margin system, was meant to protect the consumer ," Khaalis Rolle said then. "T o my mind, to this point it has been r el atively effective, but I don't think that's the major issue at hand. "When you start to look at petroleu m prices, the margin is a relatively s mall component of the pricing str ucture of fuel. The main component is the actual l anded, acquisition cost of the fuel, a nd then you tack on the margins, tack on the duty structure of the gasoline. "At any point, duties make up a h uge part of the overall price. So, compared to other places, the price is extr e mely high, but it is extremely high for a couple of reasons the acquisition cost of the fuel, and the duty and tax str ucture of the fuel." The Government via the tax struct ure earns $1.06 per gallon of gas plus 7 per cent Stamp Duty and, when oil prices rise as they now do, its take goes up thanks to the latter being cal c ulated as a percentage. Explaining the inefficiency, Mr Rolle told T r ibune Business: "If [glob al oil] prices go up too high, the cost of c apital goes up. The retailers need m or e money to pay for fuel upfr ont, so the cost of getting the fuel goes up for them. Because the cost of capital is soe xpensive, it strains their mar gins. "If they have to go into overdraft to pay for fuel shipments, they have to pay over draft char g es, which come out o f the mar gin. That's where the inefficiency is in the pricing structure. Petroleum products are a very heavily taxed commodity and it doesn't serve t hem well." Another business community source, who spoke to Tribune Businessi n July on condition of anonymity, said t hat without fixing the pricing structur e anomalies in the gasoline industry, the current situation will only r epeat itself down the line. G as margins were last increased under the first FNM government, the sour ce said, yet almost 10 years later the Bahamas was her e again, and with the same arguments being made. Gas prices were already extremely high, and the Government's decision meant they were likely to go higher on the grounds that dealers needed more money "Y ou have to go back and look at this system that doesn't make sense at all," the source said. "If you don't solve the problem correctly, in a couple of years you're going to do the same thing." The solution, the sour ce said, was for the Government to reduce its $1.06 per gallon tax, plus 7 per cent Stamp Duty on the cost of landed fuel, something it is unlikely to do when desperate for every cent of revenue. The other issue, they added, was the rents, royalties and franchise fees levied on the BPRA and its members by the oil companies. The sour ce identified these and the Government taxes as the major problem, together with an over -supply of ser vice stations. "When you look at the amount of service stations per square mile in Nassau, you've got mor e than in Florida. Something's got to be fundamentally wrong there," the source said, suggesting there needed to be consolidation. "For an island 21x7, we should not have so many ser vice stations in close pr oximity That's the only way to begin to drive costs down for Bahamian consumers." yard this side of the Americas, is one of the world's leading shipyards for undertaking dry-docking, repairs and modifications to cruise ships. Carnival and Royal Caribbean each own 40 per cent of the Shipyar d, while the Grand Bahama Por t Authority has a 20 per cent stake. The Shipyard has three floating docks, two of which are about 1,000 feet long, while the thir d is 880 feet. FROM page one C ARNIV AL B OOST FOR SHIPYARD DEVASTATING FEARS ON GASOLINE STRIKE FROM page one

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$WWQURMHFW&RRUGLQDWRU%DKDPDV9LUWXDOODWIRUP $GGUHVVKLUOH\Wt&ROOLQV$YHQXH 7 FDWLRQSULRUWRVHQGLQJIDFVLPLOHVf YLUWXDOSODWIRUP#WKHEDKDPDVFKDPEHUFRP Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, Captain Butler acknowledging that these dates were when scheduledm aintenance took place. As a result, the carriers load factors (passenger occupan-cy) often dipped to less than 40 per cent. Still, Captain Butler told Tribune Business that Sky Bahamas was targeting November for the launch of three new routes -N assau and Marsh Harbour to West Palm Beach, and Nassau to Orlando. When launched, these three would take Sky Bahamas to a total of 12 routes. Were about to do Marsh Harbour to West Palm Beach and Nassau to West Palm Beach for November.W ere going to have that in place for November, Captain Butler confirmed to Tribune Business. Weve got approvals in p lace already, and are awaiti ng approvals for Orlando t o Nassau. Were also aiming for November there. We want to do them both in November. Captain Butler said Sky Bahamas was eyeing a twicew eekly service to Orlando, a nd three day service to West Palm Beach, from Nassau. The company was also planning a thrice-weekly service to West Palm Beach from Marsh Harbour,a nd had plans to extend this to five days per week. To fulfill its plans, Captain Butler said Sky Bahamas was continuing to grow its existing 112 staff complement and plane fleet,h aving hired several specialists following its recent job fair that drew some 1,504 applicants. We wanted licensed p ilots, licensed maintenance p ersons, he added. We h ired four licensed pilots, one local mechanic, and are in the process of hiring eight guest service people in Nassau, four people in Freeport and four in Florida. Were still holding our o wn, trying to deliver quality service to our people. Captain Butler told Tribune Business that load factors continued to be strong for Sky Bahamas, standinga t close to 100 per cent on per cent of domestic routes out of Nassau from mid-July to present. He added that the picture on routes originating from Marsh Harbour over thes ame period was similar, while Freeport was off the chain. Were challenged with some of the decisions andp olicies the Government is d oing, Captain Butler told t his newspaper. An example is the fees at NAD. The fees have increased, and Bahamasair is still reducing their fares and offering specials. Bahamasair is used ast he market, the standard for t he fees. If Im going to be more than Bahamasair on any route on which we compete,I cant be more than 10 per cent max. It really creates ap roblem in the market. Advocating competition, Captain Butler contrasted the subsidies and incentives foreign-owned carriers flying to the Bahamas were receiving through the backd oor with the absence of such tools for Bahamianowned carriers. Noting that fuel and labour costs remained stub-b ornly high, Captain Butler a dded: We dont want any h andouts or subsidies from government. If the Government let market forces reign, wed do a lot of things. He told Tribune Business t hat the new Civil Aviation r egulations were starting to come home to some of the operators in the Bahamas. Theyre not applicable to some areas of theB ahamas. AIRLINE REACHE S FOR SKY IN $1.4M HANGAR FROM page one Share your news The Tribune wants to hear from people who are making news in their neighbourhoods. Perhaps you are raising funds for a good cause, campaigning for improvements in the area or have won an award. If so, call us on 322-1986 and share your story.

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Bahamian economy had raised more questions than answers, since the dataa ppeared to directly contrad ict continued assertions that the Government had a plan to bring the debt-to-GDP ratio back on to a more sustainable path. Key data contained in the I MF statement appears to h ave largely been missed until now but Gene Leon, its head of mission to the Bahamas, warned that higher spending on new government initiat ives was set to increase the c entral government deficit to 5 .25 per cent of GDP this fiscal year. This indicates that, certainly in the short-term, the key deficit and debt-to-GDPr atios are likely to worsen w here the Bahamas is concerned. Thats really ominous, Mr Smith told Tribune Business, because it contradicts what theyre [the IMF] also saying. Theyre confirming the Government has a plan andi ntends to address the quest ion of the deficit and the debt. But then theyre saying just the opposite: increasing t he debt by increasing expenditure. Describing the Bahamas f iscal policy, as outlined in the I MF statement, as a very hard read, Mr Smith contrasted the increased spending for 2011-2012 with the tax increases contained in the 2 010-2011 Budget a move t hat was designed to raise revenues, bridge the fiscal gap and send a prudence mes-s age to the international com munity. On one hand you start off o ne year saying youre taking t his thing in hand, and then do just the opposite the following year by opening up the f loodgates again, Mr Smith told Tribune Business. My view is: Where are we head e d? The IMF statement also noted that the Governments 2010-2011 fiscal deficit had widened to around 4.75 per cent of GDP, adding: Total revenues increased, aided by h igher-than-average stamp duties, but expenditures increased more, owing to higher spending on goods and s ervices. Although the sale of 51 per cent of the shares of the Bahamas Telecommunications Company eased financ ing pressures, central govern m ent debt rose to almost 49 per cent of GDP. Contrasting the 4.75 per cent deficit with the 2-2.5 perc ent annual deficits the Bahamas had traditionally run pre-recession, Mr Smith s aid of the former figure: We seem very content with that, w hen in the past that was unheard of. Its also happening in the face of falling revenue, and its difficult to increase rev-e nue given the anemic econo my. Im not too impressed w ith the way were heading at all. The IMF statement, Mr Smith added, indicated the Government had made allt he right soundbites during the Funds July 13-26 visit to the Bahamas. Yet its stated plans were undermined by both the absence of fiscal consolidation details and the increased deficit projected thisy ear. Going forward, the authorities intend to take fiscal measures to stabilize and reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio and support the economic r ecovery, while maintaining price and exchange rate stability, the IMF statementr eads. They also plan to reform and enhance tax administra-t ion, increase fiscal responsibility, and improve transparency for public enterprise s. Y et the previous paragraph in the same statement adds: Higher spending on new government initiatives are expected to widen the central government deficit to about 5 .25 per cent of GDP, and r aise central government debt t o over 50 per cent of GDP in fiscal year 2011-2012. Additional risks to the fiscal outlook arise from the continued weak performance oft he non-financial public e nterprises. What are these plans to bring it down when theyre forecasting to send it up? Mr Smith asked. Thats where I have my difficulty.T he outlook seems to be for more deficits. Its very difficult to chart a course based on what were seeing. Theyre [the IMF] very clear on it. They think we should be concerned aboutt he direction of the deficit, and hence the debt. They feel the Government has plans to take care of it, but thats contradicted by saying the deficit is going up even f urther in the next fiscal period. The current fiscal year is a lso an election year, and the former finance minister questioned whether the Gov-e rnment had the same head room as in prior election years. T he other significant item i n the IMF statement was its upward revision to the Bahamas 2011 economic growth prospects. The Fund had pegged this nations GDP growth at 1.3 per cent i n its last World Economic O utlook report, but has now i ncreased this to 2 per cent in line with the Governments own forecasts. Mr Smith said he suspected the revised growth fore-c ast came from putting all t he eggs into the Baha Mar b asket. He questioned, though, whether estimates of Baha Mars impact on the Bahamian economy might be o verblown, given the large Chinese labour component, and queried whether these projections had been revised. Other potential headwinds f acing the Bahamian econom y included consumer conf idence levels in the US in the aftermath of the debt ceiling battle and Standard& Poors (S&P a nd whether this nation would continue to attract the higher spending visitors it was used to. And Mr Smith also argued t hat an enhanced governm ent housing programme w ould do better at stimulating construction industry employment than major commercial projects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f 6WURQJRUJDQL]DWLRQDQGFRPPXQLFDWLRQVNLOOV )OXHQF\LQSDQLVKDQDVVHW EXWQRWUHTXLUHG T ([SHULHQFHZRUNLQJZLWK:,DQDVVHW EXWQRWUHTXLUHG T $SSOLFDWLRQVUHVXPHVKRXOGEHVHQWE\HPDLOWR QDVVDX#ZLQWHUERWKDPFRP E\)ULGD\$XJXVW WK 8QGHUHIHUHQFH$VVLVWDQW$FFRXQWDQW $%62/87(/<7(/(3+21(,148,5,(6:,//$&&(37(' 4 3HUVRQVQRWPHHWLQJWKHDERYHUHTXLUHPHQWQHHGQRWDSSO\ HPSOR\PHQWQDV#JPDLOFRP 5.25% DEFICIT CALL REALLY OMINOUS FROM page one

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NEW YORK A ssociated Press U.S. STOCKSfluctuated Wednesday after companies reported strong earnings but gave mixed forecasts for the future. T arget Corp., Staples Inc. and Dell Inc. all reported earnings for last quarter that were above analysts' forecasts. Companies in the Standard & Poor's 500 are on track to report higher profitsf or a ninth straight quarter. But economic growth is weak around the world, and some economists worry that a sec-o nd recession may be coming. That could pull down future results. Target and Staples both gave profit forecasts thatw ere above Wall Street's expectations, but Dell cut its prediction for revenueg rowth this year. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 49 points, or 0.4 percent, to 11,357 at 1:30 p.m. (1730 GMT had been up as many as 120 around 10:30 a.m. The S&P 5 00 fell 4, or 0.4 percent, to 1,188. The Nasdaq composite fell 26, or 1.1 percent, to 2,497. Six of the 10 sectors that m ake up the S&P 500 rose. Four fell, led by a 1.4 percentd rop for technology stocks after Dell's forecast cut. "There are a whole bunch of contradictory signals in the system now, and it's hard tot ell which way to go," said C harlie Smith, chief investm ent officer of Fort Pitt Capital Group, which has just over $1 billion in assets under m anagement. T he increased role of automated trading by computers has increased volatility, mak-i ng investing more difficult. "When you get a piece of n ews, it's almost like the machines are trying to outquick each other," and they are sending stocks in straight lines up or down, Smith said. "That's what really scares r etail investors. We try to sit and wait in the weeds for good businesses at good prices." He has focused on telecom s tocks and cable companies. Their relatively big dividendy ields look more attractive given low yields on bonds. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note is at 2.17 percent, down from 3.34 percenta t the start of the year. T elecom stocks in the S&P 5 00 rose 1.1 percent Wednesday, the most among the 10 sectors that make up the i ndex. Utility stocks also tend t o pay dividends, and they rose 0.8 percent. Energy stocks rose 0.4 perc ent after crude oil gained 95 cents per barrel to $87.60. D ell said late Tuesday its p rofit rose 63 percent last q uarter on strong demand f rom businesses and government agencies. But it also cite d "a more uncertain demand environment" when it cut its forecast for annualr evenue growth to a range of 1 percent to 5 percent. That's down from an earlier growth forecast for 5 percent to 9 percent. Dell stock fell 10.5 percent Wednesday. Other companies are more optimistic. Retailer Target said it expects to earn between $4.15 per share and $4.30 per share this year. Analysts had expected $4.14 p er share. Target also said its earnings last quarter rose 3.7 percent on sales of grocery, beauty products and other items. Target shares rose 1.5p ercent. Office products retailer S taples raised its profit forecast for the year after saying strong international sales pushed earnings up 36 percent last quarter. D eere also raised its forec ast for full-year earnings. It n ow expects to earn $2.7 billion this fiscal year, up from a May forecast of $2.65 billion. T he maker of tractors and o ther heavy equipment said its profit rose 15 percent last quarter on strong demand forf arm equipment. Companies are making m ore money, but many have d one so by raising prices to o ffset higher costs. Higher f ood prices helped push inflation at the wholesale level to 0 .2 percent in July, according to a government report Wednesday. B ut that is still well below i nflation levels earlier this year when oil prices were spiking because of violence in the Middle East. In February, wholesale inflation was 1.5 percent. much you can charge a person. You just have to do all you possibly can to minimise the hit that youre going to take. Janice Saunders, director of Majestic Tours, told Tribune Business: You have to give your rates to the agents a year in advance. Weve had to eat the increase in fuel. We sign contracts a year in advance. When the gas goes up, we cant pass that price on to the customers, so imagine how that affects my bottom line. Theres nothing you can do. We have to eat our losses. Its an awful situation. Michael Symonette, owner of Bahamas Experience, told Tribune Business: Not only do we feel the pinch in terms of fuel consumption for our vehicles, but the utility bills have also increased. Many of the operators are locked into contracts and the one variable factor is the fuel costs. That is a serious challenge fora lot of our businesses in the industry. And one taxi service operator told Tribune Business: Obviously any increase in the price of fuel affects our bottom line. I use diesel, and diesel for a long time was cheaper than gas, but now diesel almost matches the price of gas. The Government raised the rate years back to kind of compensate for the increase in fuel over the last couple of years, but it looks like were going to need a rate increase again because fuel prices are really high. Anthony Williams, owner o f Taxi Transfers and Tours, told Tribune Business that for him, working extra hours was one way of helping to offset the fuel costs. With cab drivers, you can determine how many hours you work. If you are on a 40hour week schedule, with thaty ou would have to budget how much you allocate for gas, Mr Willams said. In my case I just work more hours to offset what I would have paid normally. If I normally work eight hours a day and the fuel prices goes up, what I would do is work1 2 hours. The only way it would affect me is I would have to work more hours to offset the costs. I can work around that because I can be flexible with my work schedule. 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GENERA TIONEXT Y outh Ministr y is a vibrant and vital part of the Christian Formation Ministry at the Parish Church of the Most Holy T rinity Our mission is to create and enhance Christian morals and ideals in the lives of youth thr ough spirit led BIble teaching, worship, fellow ship, and prayer Since the year 2000, GeneratioNext h a s h o s t e d a y o u t h co n f er e n c e IGNISHUN, which has been an instr ument in changing the lives of young peo ple all over New Providence. In this tradition, this youth ministr y will be hosting IGNISHUN 2K11 under the theme "CALLED TO DUTY" at Holy T rinity' s Activities Centre August 18-20. T hi s y ear s t he me i s t ak en f r o m 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 which tells us "For though we live in the world, we do not w ag e wa r as t h e wo r l d d o es T h e w ea p on s w e f i gh t wi t h ar e n ot t h e weapons of the world. On the contrar y t h e y h av e d i vi n e p o we r to d em o l is h strongholds. W e demolish arguments and e v e r y p r e t en s i o n t ha t s e t s i t s e l f u p against the knowledge of God, and we take captive ever y thought to make it obedient to Christ". O ur s p ea k er t h i s y ea r i s P as t o r T imothy Ross of Dallas T exas. Pastor Ross began preaching at the age of 20 years old and has already impacted the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. His dynamic teaching style and uncanny ability to make people understand the gospel message is the reason why he has been such an asset to ministries across cultural and denominational lines. T im's gift to communicate developed u nd er tw o dy na mi c mi ni s t r ies : Go d' s W a y H o l in e s s F el l o ws h i p C h ur ch i n V al i nd a C al i f o r n ia an d T h e P o t t er s House in Dallas, TX. It was under the leadership of these two gr eat ministries that his gift to speak developed and now touches lives around the world. Pastor R os s i s t h e f o u n de r o f Tim R o s s Ministries which facilitates his evangelis tic endeavours. Y oung people today are plagued with so many negative forces and influences that even if they wanted to some of them are unable to live Christ center ed lives. Whether it be a broken home or peer pressure, W e at GeneratioNext feel that it is time for Christian young people to come to the forefront in our chur ches, communities and schools. By answering this "Call to Duty" the Christian community can begin to once The T ribune PG 38 Thursday August 18, 201 1 RELIGION C a l l e d t o D u t y again make a positive impact on our Bahamaland ensuring the quality of the future of this countr y Pictur ed ar e scenes from last year s conference which was held under the theme "The Stand." Each year during the conference GeneratioNext puts on a drama based upon the theme. Last year the plot of the drama sur r ounded a young man being put on trial for taking a stand for God in a time when Christianity had become taboo. He was being persecuted for standing up for what he knew to be right. His family and friends all tur ned their backs on him, and he was left all alone to defend himself. In the end, he won his case because he never faltered in his belief and his life served as a witness to all who were persecuting him. G E N E R A T I O N E X T Y outh Mi nistr y will be hosting IGNISHUN 2K11 under the theme CA L LE D TO D U T Y" at H o ly T r i n i t y s Activities Centre August 18-20.

By PRECISION MEDIA FOR THE TRIBUNE FOR MORE than a decade, Sunday school teacher Lavette Smith attended Lakeview Chur ch of God, but this past w eekend mar ked th e fi rs t ti me s he r eceived a red carpet welcome. On Sunday August 14, the 24-year o l d w as o ff i c i al l y p r es e nt ed t o h e r c h u r c h a s t he n e w M i s s G o s p el Bahamas 2011/2012. The church' s foyer was decorated for h e r j oy o us h o m ec o m i ng A Co n gr a tu l a ti on s b a nn e r da ng l e d from the ceiling. Underneath it wer e three of the garments the queen wor e the night she was crowned: the Esther outfit which won her Best Costume' in the Biblical float parade and the dress e s f r o m t h e p age an t s ta l en t a n d evening wear segments. It was two weeks ago in an intense competition when Smith beat nine hopefuls to capture the crown. During the queen's official pr esenta tion to her church, Lakeview' s Inner C i r c l e y o ut h g ro u p m e m b er J a n a y Saunders paid tribute to Ms Smith in a poem. The queen was also serenaded by the church' s choir with a stir ring ren d i t i o n of t he go s p el h i t F ul l y Committed." In his sermon, Bishop Charles Dean noted that Ms Smith for etold that she would win the crown. "Lavette expected God to work a miracle," he preached. "When you fol low God' s lead, He will always work it out for you." Bi s ho p D e an c ha l l e n ged pa ge an t organisers to always fer r et out the best contestants. "This committee must continue to sear ch for the most inwardly and out war dly beautiful, good role models for this generation," he said. "Y oung people need women who dis play the fear of God and have grown into skilled, educated, articulate, pr oductive members of society ." Ms Smith's journey so far has been humbling. "I am honoured to have this assign ment placed on my head," the queen said, pointing to her crown. "I know that I am chosen for this season. It was confir med over and over I am asking God to help me to keep myself humble during this time." "I was a r ole model befor e," adds Ms S m i t h, wh o c u r r ent l y s er ve s as th e Inner Cir cle president. "But, the stakes are higher now ." During her year -long reign, the queen will car r y out charitable work in con j u n c ti on w i t h G r ea t C o m m i s s i o n Ministries International, the or ganisa tion which founded the Miss Gospel Bahamas pageant. "W e thank God that we are blessed to have such a wonder ful queen," said G r ea t Co m m i s si o n' s B i s h op W a l t e r Hanchell. He was quick to note that all contestants were qualified to win the Miss Gospel Bahamas title. "They were all bor n again and active in their church," he told Lakeview's congregation. "W e don' t allow just any one to enter W e scr een ver y carefully ." B i s h o p H an c h el l be l i e ve s th at 2011/2012 is going to be "the best year ever" for Miss Gospel Bahamas. "W e aim to see every island in The Bahamas pr esent us with a repr esenta tive on pageant night," he said. For now the pageant committee is secure in the knowledge that it has an exceptional queen. "From the moment that crown sat on her head, we noticed that this is indeed a woman of God...with a hear t and pas sion to follow the things of God," said p a ge an t c o m m i tt ee c h a i r An ya McKenzie. A past Miss Gospel queen herself, Ms McKenzie believes the pageant "sets the standard" for young people. The Bahamas, she said, needs young women and men "who will stand for God and stand for righteousness." The T ribune PG 40 Thursday August 18, 201 1 RELIGION A QUEEN'S HOMECOMING Red carpet welcome for Lakeview church member QUEEN OF GOSPEL: Bishop Charles Dean, pastor of Lakeview Chur ch of God, congratulates chur ch member Lavette Smith on winning the Miss Gospel Bahamas Pageant. The new queen was officially presented to her chur ch on Sunday August 14. "Young people need women who display the fear of God and have grown into skilled, educated, articulate, productive members of society." BISHOP CHARLES DEAN

THETRIBUNE SECTIONETHURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011 INSIDE TRAK T T U U R R N N T T O O 3 3 E E . . . T T U U R R N N T T O O 2 2 E E . . . T T U U R R N N T T O O 4 4 E E . . . SIMON TO COMPETE IN TRIATHLON BAHAMAS BLUEJAYS END 4-GAME SWEEP WITH 103-54 ROUT OVER SHOCKERS PORTUGAL REACHES FINAL WITH 2-0 VICTORY OVER FRANCE W&S OPEN: SERENA WITHDRAWS, WOZNIACKI LOSES TO MCHALE ETOO NEARS DEAL TO BECOME HIGHEST PAID FOOTBALLER T T U U R R N N T T O O 7 7 E E . T T U U R R N N T T O O 5 5 E E . . . B y BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net D onald Thomas, better known as theS ky Walker for his e xploits in the mens high jump, has one goal in mind win another IAAFW orld Championship title. The 2007 champion at the event in Osaka, Japan, is all set to depart Friday as a member of the Bahamas 1 8-member squad that will be competing in Daegu, South Korea, from August 27 to September 4. Im just going to go out there and perform and represent the Bahamas at the best of my ability, said Thomas, as he winds down his training at Auburn University. Hopefully, I can do well because I expect great things to come out of this championships. I want this to be the best championship that I ever attended, he added. Theres nothing like the first, but having achieved the victory in his debut in 2007, a year after he made a successful transition from playing basketball to a fourthplace finish at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia, Thomas said he wants to avenge his disappointing 15th place finish at the 2009 worlds in Berlin, Germany. Hopefully, I can improve on that, said Thomas as he gears up for his third consecutive appearance at the championships. Thomas, who celebrated his 27th birthday on July 1, is coming off a banner 2010 season where he won the gold at both the Central Ameri can and Caribbean and the Commonwealth Games. This year, he goes into the championship as the 11th best jumper on the IAAF world listing with a sea sons best of 2.32 metres or 7-feet, 7 1/4-inches that he achieved while retaining his BAAA National Championships title on his home turf in Grand Bahama. I had some good performances and I really felt good this year, said Thomas, who has the second best performance in the region behind world leader American Jesse Williams with a leap of 2.37m or 7-9 1/4. Some of the performances where I didnt do so good, I had a lot of jet lag. I didnt have enough rest and all of that. But going into Daegu, I will have enough rest and get situated and acclimatized, so I should have a good performance. While Williams heads the list of performers, Russia has three competitors that follow with Aleksey Dmitrik, Aleksandr Shustov and Andrey Silnov, all at 2.36 or 7-8 3/4. The others ahead of Thomas are Ukraines Dmytro Demyanyuk and Qatars Mutaz Essa Barshim both at 2.35m or 7-8 1/2), Cyprus Kyriakos Ioannou (2.33m or 7-7 3/4 both Germanys Raul Spank and Greeces Dimitros Chondrokoukis (2.32m or 7-7 1/4 Having looked at the competitors, Thomas said he feels hes in a good position to be a medallist again. I think I will need to jump around the mid-2.30s, he projected. Everyone has been jumping aroundt he same height this year. So its just a matter of who wants it the most when we all suit up. Theres no one out there who is jumping that much further than the rest of the field. So its a pretty close field. I think around 2.30 shoulda llow you to be right in contention. For the first time, Thomas will be competing with fellow BahamianT revor Barry, who has cleared a seasons best of 2.29 (7-6 ished as the runner-up at the nationals. Barry, 28, was also the runner-up to Thomas at both the CAC championships and Commonwealth Games last year. This year, hes hoping that he will finally get a morale booster with a victory over his neme sis. Trevor is a very good competitor and I like competing against him, said Thomas, who had to dig down deep to pull off the win at the nationals. We have a good relationship. We talk to each other. We dont have any animosity towards each other. I want to see him do well. But I also want to see myself do well, so Im looking forward to competing against him. I know Im not just competing against myself, but against the world. He just happens to be a part of the field. So Im just going to go out there and give it my all. If he is successful in doing that, Thomas said he doesnt see why he cant come out with another medal preferably the gold again. Sky walker going for gold at IAAF W orlds GOING FOR GOLD: High jumper Donald Thomas (top IAAF World Championships in Daegu. (FILE B y BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net ANDRE Deveaux, the first B ahamian to play in the National H ockey League (NHL his name on a one-year deal to play for the New York Rangers. On Tuesday, the Rangers agreed to terms with the rugged winger on ac ontract for the 2011-12 season. He comes over from the American Hockey League where he playedw ith the Chicago Wolves last year. During his sting with the Wolves, 2 7-year-old Deveaux produced c areer highs of 23 goals and 46 p oints with 194 penalty minutes. Although he was initially drafted by the Montreal Canadiens as the 1 82nd overall pick in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Deveaux played with the Belleville Bulls from 2000-2003i n the Ontario Hockey League. He r emained in the OHL with the Owen Sound Attack for the next two years before he switched to the AHL where he played two years for the Springfield Falcons. F rom 2005-2008, Deveaux played between the East Coast Hockey League (ECHLt he Johnstown Chiefs, Springfield Falcons, Chicago Wolves and Toronto Marlies. On November 27, 2008, Deveaux finally made his debut with the Toronto Maple Leafs in the NHL, becoming the first Bahamian to playi n the premier hockey league in the world. The next three years, he trad ed places between the Marlies, Maples Leaps and Wolves in both the NHL and the AFL. Now hes back in the NHL. D eveaux, 6-feet, 3-inches and 220 p ounds, has played in 22 games in the NHL during the course of his career with the Maple Leafs. Heg oes into the Rangers camp, having produced one assist and 75 penalty m inutes. The native of Grand Bahama, who grew up in Welland, Ontario,C anada, is hoping to make an impact with the Rangers, who will begin their seven game pre-season schedule 7pm Wednesday (September 21 against New Jersey in Albany, New York. However, the Rangers are all set t o begin their regular season October 7-8 on the road in Stockholm, Sweden. They return to the United States to play the Canucks on Tuesday, October 28. Ironically, their first home game is s et for Thursday, October 27, against D eveauxs former team, the Maple Leafs, whom he played for twice in 2008-09 and again in 2009-10.D eveaux was not available for comments up to press time last night. Andre Deveaux signs 1-year deal with New York Rangers He is the first Bahamian to play in National Hockey League ANDRE DEVEAUX

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SPORTS PAGE 2E, THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011 THE TRIBUNE THE second annual Street Legends and Guiness Bridg ing the Gap Community Basketball League is now into its postseason play. All rounds of the playoffs and champi onships will be a best-of-three series. Heres a look at the schedule of games o n tap: F F r r i i d d a a y y ( ( A A u u g g u u s s t t 1 1 9 9 ) ) b b e e s s t t o o f f t t h h r r e e e e , D D W W D D a a v v i i s s G G y y m m 7pm Western District playoffs finals: No.2 Arnold Forbes Mt Moriah East vs No.2 Tommy Turnquests Mt Moriah West 8pm Northern District playoffs finals No.2 Bernard Nottages Bain Town Destroyers vs No.3 Paul Moss St Cecilia Twin Tow ers 9pm Southern District finals No.2 Shane Gibsons Golden Gates Trailblazers vs No.3 Pinewood Gardens S S a a t t u u r r d d a a y y ( ( A A u u g g u u s s t t 2 2 0 0 ) ) , D D W W D D a a v v i i s s G G y y m m 7pm Eastern District playoff No.1 Ryan Pinders Lizzys Lions vs No.4 Carmichael 8pm Western District playoffs No.1 Charles Maynards Golden Isles West vs No.4 Street Legends Golden Isles East 9pm Northern District playoffs No.1 Debbie Bartlette Gems 105.9 FM vs Glenys Hanna Martins Englerston Ballers 10pm Southern District playoffs No.1 Dr Kendall Majors Garden Hillsider vs Street Legends defending champions Kennedy Constituency M M o o n n d d a a y y ( ( A A u u g g u u s s t t 2 2 2 2 ) ) , C C h h r r i i s s t t i i e e P P a a r r k k 7pm Western District No.2 Arnold Forbes Mt Moriah East vs No.3 Tommy Turnquests Mt Moriah West 8pm Northern District No.2 Bernard Nottages Bain Town Destroyers vs Paul Moss St Cecilia Twin Towers. 9pm Southern District No.2 Shane Gibson Golden Gates Trailblazers vs No.3 Pinewood Gardens SCHEDULE: Bridging the Gap community basketball league S S O O C C C C E E R R B B E E R R M M U U D D A A W W I I N N AFTER the Bahamas spanked them around 10-0 in the opening game on Sunday, Bermuda came back on Tues day night and blanked Antigua and Barbuda 5-0 to set up the final showdown in the Group A qualifying round of the CONCACAF Under17 Girls Tournament. The Bahamas and Bermuda are scheduled to tangle 6pm today in the final game of the qualifying tournament at the Roscow Davies Developmental Center, Baillou Hills Sporting Complex. The winner of the series will advance to the next roundo f the CONCACAF Tournament. Team manager Karen Green is encouraging the pub lic to bring your cow bells...horns...flags and drums....and most of all...wear your Bahamian colours and support our young ladies... Also...calling all true Val ley Boys and dedicated Saxons and all other Junkanoo Groups...Please join together and come in costume and support your Junkanoo divas. Birthday girl Dena Ingraham booted in five goals, while Shelby Green, Lauren Haven, Akwah Thompson, Kennadi Green and Joya Smith all scored one each. B B A A S S K K E E T T B B A A L L L L S S U U M M M M E E R R O O F F T T H H U U N N D D E E R R THE Bahamas Basketball Federation is all set to continue its Summer of Thunder College Scrimmages at the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasi um tonight. The remaining schedule of games are as follows: Thursday, August 18 Uni versity of North Carolina Wilmington vs. Cybots at 7pm Friday, August 19 Uni versity North Carolina Wilmington vs. Bahamas All Stars at 7pm Friday, August 19 Mickeys USA All Stars vs. Cybots at 9pm Saturday, August 20 Mickeys USA All Stars vs. Real Deal Shockers at 6pm Sunday, August 21 Mickeys USA All Stars vs. Bahamas All Stars Game at 6pm Monday, August 22 Mickeys USA All Stars vs. Commonwealth Giants at 7:30pm Monday, September 12 Seattle Pacific University vs. Bahamas All Stars at 7pm Tuesday, September 13 Seattle Pacific University vs. Real Deal Shockers at 7pm Wednesday, September 14 Seattle Pacific University vs. Cybots Game at 7pm T T R R A A C C K K W W O O R R L L D D C C H H A A M M P P I I O O N N S S H H I I P P S S THE Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations 18member team, along with 13 officials, are all set to depart today for the 13th IAAF World Championships in Daegu, South Korea. The first segment of the team is slated to leave New Providence today. They will be joined by a group coming out of Atlanta, Georgia. The third and final group will depart from Fort Lauderdale. The entire team will meet up in Seoul, Korea, where they will catch a train ride into Daegu to go through a minitraining camp before the start of the championships on Saturday, August 27. The championships will wrap up on Sunday, Septem ber 4. S S O O F F T T B B A A L L L L N N P P S S A A S S C C H H E E D D U U L L E E THE New Providence Softball Association is expected to be back in action this week at the Bankers Field, Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, with the following games on tap: Thursdays schedule 7pm Sigma Brackettes vs Black Scorpions (L 8pm Mitts vs Dorsey Park (M Saturdays schedule 7pm Black Scorpions vs Proper Care Pool Lady Sharks (L 8pm Dorin Hitmen vs Island Luck Truckers (M SPORTS IN BRIEF REIGNING world high jump champion Blanka Vlasic of Croatia says shes doubtful for the upcoming world championships because of a partially torn muscle in her left leg. Vlasic has dominated the women's high jump since taking silver at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. (AP Vlasic could miss worlds with leg injury THE New Providence Softball Association continued its regular season with two games at the Bankers Field, Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, on Tuesday night. In one of the games, the Johns Buccaneers blasted the Dorsey Park Boys Bommer George 14-8 as Car dinal Gilbert came in relief of starter Culbert Buster Evans in the fourth inning for the win. Eric Johnson had a perfect 4-for-4 night with two RBI and four runs scored, Lamar Watkins was 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs, Angelo Dillet was 2-for-4 with a RBI and run scored and Gilbert helped his own cause by going 1-for-3 with a run scored. Desmond Rolle was 2-for-3 with three RBI, Darren Bowleg was 2for-2 with a run scored and both Tori Rolle and Leonardo Ferguson were 1-for-3 with a run scored. Ferguson also had a RBI. Deval Storr was tagged with the loss. In the other game played, the Island Luck Truckers rolled past the M ighty Mitts 12-0 as Leroy Thompson fired a one-hitter with a walk and four strike outs for the win. Julian Collie-Taylor had a perfect 3-for-3 night with three RBI and a run scored, Marvin Tougie Wood was also perfect at 3-for-3 with twoR BI and three runs scored and Orlando McPhee was 2-for-2 with a RBI and two runs scored. The Truckers also got a 2-for-3 night with two RBI and a run scored from Ramone Storr, Ramon Shaky Johnson was 1-for-3 with two runs scored, Winston Seymour was 1-for2 with a RBI and run scored and Diego Hutchinson was 1-for-2 with a run scored. Jamal Ferguson got the only hit for the Mighty Mitts. He also started on the mound, but lasted just one round, picking up the loss before he was replaced by Ryan Major. The NPSA is scheduled to be back in action with another double header tonight. In the 7pm opener, the Sigma Brackettes are set to take on the Black Scorpions and in the nightcap, the Mighty Mitts are slated to face the Dorsey Park Boys. Another double header is set for Saturday night when the Black Scorpions are slated to take on the Proper Care Pool Lady Sharks in the 7pm opener. The mens feature game will be between the Dorin Hitmen and the Island Luck Truckers. Buccaneers blast Dorsey Park Boys, Truckers roll past Mighty Mitts N N P P S S A A S S O O F F T T B B A A L L L L By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net IT was a successful trip here for the Creighton Bluejays, who completed a clean sweep of their four games played at the Kendal Isaacs Gym with a 103-54 rout over the Real Deal Shockers Tuesday night. The Bluejays hit their first seven shots from the field and opened an early 32-5 lead at the end of the first quarter. By the half, they were leading 49-16 as the Shockers slowly got on track in the Summer of Thunder College Scrimmages. Using a 23-18 scoring deficit, the Shockers trimmed the lead to 72-34 a t the close of the third. But that w as as far as they got as the Bluejays w ent on another surge with a 32-19 spurt in the fourth. Right now, we are okay. We are in no kind of ball shape because our season is over, said Real Deals coach James Price. We could put up a more competitive game, if we learn to play team ball. I picked up about five players and I noticed that we were just playing one on one because I dont have my whole team. Who isnt sick, have to work. So we just have to work our problem out and we will be okay. Avery Dingman led four players in double figures with 24 points and seven rebounds. Will Artino had 17 points and 11 rebounds, Doug McDermott contributed 15 points with six rebounds and three assists and Antoine Young added 12 points with eight assists. The Real Deal had three players in double figures. Jamal Rose came off the bench and poured in 14 points with six rebounds, Lasario Bones Burrows had 12 and Sidney Seaman Hillary chipped in with 11 points. The Shockers also saw the return of Vincent Six Knowles, who was held to just two points and as many rebounds in 29 minutes of play. Price said hes hoping that Knowles will be able to make an impact for his Shockers when they try to improve on their runner-up position at the end of last years New Providence Basketball Association season. Were trying to get him on track. If we can have him and get him back in good ball shape, that will be the key for us, Price said. Six could make a big difference for us this coming season. As one of the four local teams playing in the college scrimmages through September 14, Price said his Shockers just need to pull off one victory to motivate his players. Creighton, like the University of Louisville Cardinals, played well against the local teams. But the only team to have lost a game was Gardner-Webb Runnin Bulldogs. The Runnin Bulldogs held off the Giants 86-76 Monday night as they rebounded after dropping an 83-80 decision to the Bahamas All-Stars on Sunday. No individual scores from the pair of Gardner-Webb games were available. But heres a summary of the Creighton games. B B l l u u e e j j a a y y s s 9 9 1 1 , C C y y b b o o t t s s 6 6 8 8 : : Doug McDermott scored a gamehigh 26 points with nine rebounds and Jahenns Manigat had 13 points in their third straight victory. No player was in double figures for the Cybots, who were led by Garvin Lightbourne with nine. Robson Memmon, Brian Delancy and E rnest Saunders all had eight. Relando Pritchard and Jackson Jacob both had seven. B B l l u u e e j j a a y y s s 9 9 4 4 , G G i i a a n n t t s s 8 8 2 2 : : Doug McDermott scored 29 points with 18 rebounds, Will Artino had 13 points and 15 rebounds and Josh Jones added 10 points to pace Creighton to their second win. Gamaliel Rose had 23 points with eight rebounds, Jeremy Hutchinson finished with 22 points and eight rebounds as well and Michael Bain chipped in with 10 points in a losing effort. B B l l u u e e j j a a y y s s 1 1 0 0 6 6 , A A l l l l S S t t a a r r s s 8 8 2 2 : : Doug McDermott again had a game high 27 points with six rebounds, Grant Gibbs had 12 points and Geoffrey Groselle added 11 points in the win. Four players scored in double figures in the loss, led by Ernest Saunders 24 points. Kevin Hinsey had 18, Michael Johnson 13 and Eugene Bain 12. N N o o t t e e s s : : The scrimmage is slated to continue 7pm tonight with the University of North Carolinas Wilmington taking on the Cybots as they begin a two-game series. On Friday, they are scheduled to play the Bahamas All-Stars at 7pm before they wrap up play. That is all set to be followed by the Mickeys USA All-Stars vs. the Cybots. T he Mickeys All-Stars are expected to be back on Saturday to play the Real Deal at 6pm. And on Sunday at 6pm, the Mickeys All-Stars are all set to take on the Bahamas All-Stars before they complete their appearance here against the Giants 7:30pm Monday. Bluejays end four-game sweep with 103-54 rout over Shockers BBFs Summer of Thunder College Scrimmages GIANTS Jeremy Hutchinson in action

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Reds blank Buttons for sweet revenge SPORTS THE TRIBUNE THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011, PAGE 3E THE Reds got sweet r evenge against Buttons Formal Wear in the Ed Armbrister Baseball League at Windsor Park Tuesday evening. The Reds blanked Buttons 7-0 behind the two-hit pitching of Kyle Darville, who got offensive support from Zhivargo Archer and DKyle Rolle, both contributing two hits. In senior league action last week, Buttons blanked the Reds 1-0. The best-of-three championship series is set for 5:30pm Friday (August 19 tons and the Reds go at it again. G ame two between these two teams is set for 5pm Sunday (August 21 The championship series for the little and junior league divisions are slated to begin Saturday morning (August 21f ollowing a 10am scrimmage game for T-ballers. The Hawks (blue team s et to play the Eagles (green team) at 11am and the Bears (maroon team take on the Tigers (orange 1 2:30pm. EABL Regular Season Final Standings (thru August 16, 2011 A A g g e e 9 9 1 1 1 1 L L i i t t t t l l e e L L e e a a g g u u e e D D i i v v i i s s i i o o n n 3-1 Eagles (green team coached by Andy Percentie 1-3 Hawks (blue team coached by Mike Butler A A g g e e 1 1 2 2 1 1 4 4 J J u u n n i i o o r r L L e e a a g g u u e e D D i i v v i i s s i i o o n n 4-2 Tigers (orange team coached by Mike Butler 2-4 Bears (maroon team coached by Andy Percentie A A g g e e 1 1 5 5 o o v v e e r r S S e e n n i i o o r r L L e e a a g g u u e e D D i i v v i i s s i i o o n n * 3-1 Reds (red team coached by Andy Percentie 3-2 Buttons Formal Wear (black team Butler 0 -3 Flyers (purple team coached by Mario Ford A game between Reds and Flyers incomplete JOHANNESBURG (AP Mens 800-meter world champion Mbulaeni Mulaudzi will not defend his title at the world champi onships because of a ham string injury that will keep him out for the rest of the year. South Africa's athletics federation said Wednesday that Mulaudzi will miss this worlds in Daegu, South Korea, because the hamstring problem is affecting his lower back. "I need to take this injury seriously so I can be ready for the Olympics next year," Mulaudzi said in a statement. He added that he will sit out the rest of the season to recover for 2012. Won Mulaudzi won the 800 title at the 2009 worlds in Berlin, but had been ham pered by hamstring prob lems through most of this season. The 30-year-old former world indoor and Commonwealth Games champion missed the South African nationals at the start of the season and had managed just one solid performance in 2011 a second-place finish at the Diamond League meet in New York in June. Mulaudzi's coach, JP van der Merwe, said the previous hamstring injury had flared up again and treat ment had not worked. Caster Semenya of South African, who has been ham pered by a back injury, will attempt to defend her 800 title at worlds. Injur ed mens 800 champion Mulaudzi out of the worlds By BRENT STUBBS Senior Sports Reporter bstubbs@tribunemedia.net S imon Lowe, winner of both the Conchman Triathlon in Grand Bahama and the Pineapple-a-thon in Eleuthera, heads a list of competitors already entered for the United World Colleges inaugural Triathlon Bahamas. The 750-metres swim, 20-kilometre bike ride and 5-km trail run event is scheduled to start 7:30am Sunday (September 25 Park. Kimberly A Pyfrom, one of the organisers, said that they have been so impressed with the amount of entries that they dont see why the event cant be compared to Marathon Bahamas. We need to have a triathlon here because it is such a growing event in the sporting industry here, Pyfrom stated. As we see with Marathon B ahamas, the event generates so m uch interest. That is why we decided to see if we can produce one here like the Conchman and the Pineapple-a-thon. We dont want to compete with them, but actually build on those. In the initial event, only 300 part icipants will be allowed, either competing as a relay team or in the individual categories. We put the cap on that number for better control and already we have about 70 per cent booked, Pyfrom said. So we are quite pleased with the way the regis t ration is progressing. For those who havent done so and are still interested, they can log on to www.paradisetri.com or visit Bahama Republic on East Bay Street to register. You can save by pre-registering before August 31. So far, a number of residents from F lorida have already registered to p articipate. Any queries can be directed to contact@paradisetri.com KPMG, Balduccinos Fine Foods and Cycles Unlimited are the first three sponsors. Other sponsors interested in coming on board can con-t act the organisers at Bahama Republic. Proceeds from the event will go to the United World Colleges, an education movement made up of 13 international schools and colleges, national committees in over 130c ountries and a series of short educational programmes. Established back in 1962, UMC accepted the first Bahamian in 1971. Simon heads competitors list for the inaugural Triathlon Bahamas SIMON LOWE THE COURSE: The United W orld Colleges inaugural Triathlon Bahamas race course map.